Max Verstappen holds the unique distinction of being the youngest driver in the history of Formula 1, and after his arrival, there are at least three key regulations the FIA have introduced because of him.
The Red Bull driver is rapidly making his way up the all-time record lists as his dominance of the sport continues at pace, and he has certainly made waves along the way – though that has not come without its moments which have prompted the FIA into action at times.
The meteoric rise of Verstappen to Formula 1 in only his second full season of car racing – making his FP1 debut with Toro Rosso at just 17 years and three days old at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix before a full-time seat in 2015 while still only 17 – prompted the FIA to write a minimum age of 18 into the rules for gaining a Super Licence, an absolute requirement for driving in Formula 1.
This stood for quite some time before June 2024 before the rule was relaxed slightly, believed to be through the emergence of another potential starlet in Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
While the minimum age of 18 for an FIA Super Licence still stands, a change has been made to the International Sporting Code that states: “At the sole discretion of the FIA, a driver judged to have recently and consistently demonstrated outstanding ability and maturity in single-seater formula car competition may be granted a Super Licence at the age of 17 years old.”
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